[House Report 110-223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-223

======================================================================



 
                     CESAR ESTRADA CHAVEZ STUDY ACT

                                _______
                                

 July 10, 2007.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 359]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 
bill (H.R. 359) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the 
life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement, 
having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Cesar Estrada Chavez Study Act''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall complete a special 
resource study of sites in the State of Arizona, the State of 
California, and other States that are significant to the life of Cesar 
E. Chavez and the farm labor movement in the western United States to 
determine--
          (1) appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting the 
        sites; and
          (2) whether any of the sites meets the criteria for listing 
        on the National Register of Historic Places or designation as a 
        national historic landmark under--
                  (A) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et 
                seq.); or
                  (B) the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
                470 et seq.).
  (b) Requirements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
          (1) consider the criteria for the study of areas for 
        potential inclusion in the National Park System under section 
        8(b)(2) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(b)(2)); and
          (2) consult with--
                  (A) the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation;
                  (B) the United Farm Workers Union; and
                  (C) State and local historical associations and 
                societies, including any State historic preservation 
                offices in the State in which the site is located.
  (c) Report.--On completion of the study, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
report that describes--
          (1) the findings of the study; and
          (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
carry out this Act.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 359 is to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the sites 
associated with the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm 
labor movement.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    In 1962 Cesar Chavez founded the National Farm Workers' 
Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of 
America, working to protect farm workers' rights. Chavez led 
the United Farm Workers for 31 years and gained for farm 
workers increases in wages and better working conditions. 
Through his work, Chavez became a national leader on civil 
rights and social justice.
    H.R. 359 directs the Secretary of the Interior to consider 
sites in Arizona, California, and other States that are 
significant to the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor 
movement in the western United States. The bill requires the 
Secretary to determine the appropriate methods for preserving 
and interpreting the sites and to determine whether any of them 
meet the criteria for being listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places or possible designation as national historic 
landmarks. In conducting the study, the Secretary must consider 
standard criteria for potential inclusion in the National Park 
System, and is required to consult with the Cesar E. Chavez 
Foundation, the United Farm Workers Union, and State and local 
historical associations.
    Under the legislation, the Secretary has three years from 
the date on which funds are made available to submit to the 
relevant committees in Congress, a report describing the 
findings of the study, as well as the Secretary's 
recommendations.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 359 was introduced on January 9, 2007 by 
Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public lands. On 
March 29, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On 
April 19, 2007, the Subcommittee met to markup the bill. 
Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment to make 
minor technical changes to the bill. It was adopted by voice 
vote. The bill was then forwarded to the Full Committee as 
amended by voice vote.
    On May 2, 2007, the Full Natural Resources Committee met to 
consider the bill and agreed to consider a committee print 
incorporating the subcommittee amendment as original text. 
Representative Bill Sali (R-ID) offered an amendment to state 
that nothing in the Act shall be construed to advance any 
effort to establish a national holiday honoring Cesar Chavez. 
The amendment was not adopted by rollcall vote of 5 yeas and 24 
nays as follows:


    The bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported 
to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 entitles the bill the ``Cesar Estrada Chavez 
Study Act.''

Section 2. Special resource study

    Section 2(a) requires the Secretary of the Interior to 
complete a special resource study of sites in California, 
Arizona, and other States significant to the life of Cesar 
Chavez and the farm labor movement in the western United States 
to determine the appropriate methods for preserving and 
interpreting the sites and whether any meet the criteria for 
listing on the National Register of Historic Places or 
designation as a national historic landmark. This study is 
required to be completed within three years after funding is 
made available.
    Section 2(b) requires the Secretary, when undertaking the 
study, to consider the criteria for the study of areas for 
potential inclusion in the National Park System, and requires 
the Secretary to consult with certain entities in conducting 
the study.
    Section 2(c) requires the Secretary, upon completion of the 
study, to submit a report to Congress that describes the 
findings of the study and any recommendations.

Section 3. Authorization of appropriations

    Section 3 authorizes appropriation of such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the Act.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) 
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when 
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted 
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this 
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the sites 
associated with the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm 
labor movement.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate 
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office:

H.R. 359--Cesar Estrada Chavez Study Act

    H.R. 359 would direct the Department of the Interior to 
conduct a study of sites in Arizona, California, and other 
States that might be suitably preserved and used to interpret 
the life of Cesar Chavez and the farm labor movement. The study 
would also determine whether any of the sites meet the criteria 
for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or 
designating as a national historic landmark. The bill would 
authorize the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary 
for the study and would require the department to report on its 
findings and recommendations within three years of receiving 
funds.
    Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO 
estimates that it would cost $250,000 over the next three years 
to complete the required study and report. Enacting the bill 
would not affect revenues or direct spending.
    H.R. 359 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. 
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director of the Budget Analysis Division.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    H.R. 359 does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                  
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